Who Cares?

Jesus, The Master Teacher, used simple, familiar things to teach some of life's greatest lessons: sheep, coins, seeds, planting . . . and birds. I'm so glad He included birds! Listen to His words found in Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT):

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Flocks of sparrows, including the one pictured above, feed outside my kitchen window every day - rain or shine! I love watching them. They are not powerful and majestic like the eagle or brightly colored like the cardinals and blue jays. Nevertheless, these seemingly insignificant little creatures came to Jesus' mind as He gave instructions to His twelve disciples.

His Words remind me that He cares! He knows me inside and out, from the graying hairs on the top of my head to the soles of my size 6 feet! He cares about the smallest need that I have. He cares about the situations that look impossible.

And my part is . . . to cast all my cares on Him. (I Peter 5:7). That's the easy part! The difficulty comes in following the next step: Leave them there! Remember the old song, "Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there . . . "? I have trouble with that! But since He knows me - better than I know myself - He's fully aware of my weakness. And since He cares, He will teach me and gently remind me and help me in this area - if I ask.

The Psalmist, who so honestly exposed his weaknesses, writes: "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." (Psalm. 55:22a) Notice he didn't promise that the cares would be removed; instead he declares that God's grace is enough to keep us in the midst of difficulties. We can identify with Paul when he said: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (II Cor. 4:8)

Hard pressed . . . perplexed . . . persecuted . . . struck down! BUT . . . not destroyed! Why? Because He cares! He cares about the little sparrow . . . and He cares infinitely more for you and me.

"I cast all my cares upon You;
I will lay all of my burdens down at your feet.
And any time I don't know just what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon You."
-Kathy Willard-